The National Bureau of Statistics, Harbin team, recently released the results of a research study based on a random sample of 500 citizens from different social classes. According to the research results, online shopping behavior among Harbin residents is developing rapidly.

The growth rate of online shopping exceeds traditional shopping

Among the 500 research participants, 335 participants have shopped online in 2013, 67 percent of the whole sample. Compared to 2012, 2011 and 2010, this number increased 25 percent, 1.7 times and 4.8 times.

The amount of money spent through online shopping reached 186,000 yuan. Compared to 2012, 2011 and 2010, the amount increased by 37.5 percent, 2.4 times and 7.1 times.

According to the research results, the amount of money spent through traditional shopping methods grew slower than the amount of money spent through online shopping.

Although the amount of money spent through traditional shopping methods is increasing, the growth is slower than online shopping.

The growth rate of the amount of money spent through online shopping outgrew traditional shopping methods by 34 percent in 2013. The difference in the two respective growth rates was 1.4 times in 2012 and 1.3 times in 2011.

Online shopping will coexist with traditional shopping methods

As the online shopping environment gets more and more mature and consumers increasingly accept online shopping, online shopping preferences are becoming more obvious.

Around 35.6 percent of the participants prefer shopping through traditional methods; 30.8 percent of the participants prefer shopping on-line; while 33.6 percent of participants have no obvious preference.

According to the research results, the anticipated ratio of the amount of money spent through traditional shopping methods and the amount spent online is 51.9 percent to 48.1 percent.

Comparing the figures from the last three years, the gap between the amount of money spent through traditional shopping methods and the amount spent online shrank by 28.7 percent.

More than half of the participants agreed that online shopping and traditional shopping methods will coexist.

People prefer to purchase outfits, shoes and hats online

The research results reveal that 87.8 percent of participants like to purchase outfits, shoes and hats online.

Around 76.3 percent of participants chose to purchase groceries online, and 51.6 percent of participants chose to purchase electronic products online.

Some participants often use services like Groupon when dining in a restaurant or watching a movie.

Around 57.7 percent of the participants chose to purchase food and dining options online, and 37.5 percent of participants chose to buy entertainment-related products online.

As it is more convenient to book flight tickets, train tickets and hotels online, 28.2 percent and 14.9 percent of the participants chose to book transportation and hotels online.

Young citizens make up the majority of online shoppers

According to research results, the number of online shoppers and shopping frequency are severely higher among young shoppers when compared with middle-aged and elderly citizens.

A total of 90.2 percent of young people and 87.1 percent of young adults have had online shopping experiences, while 60.5 percent of middle-aged and 16 percent of elderly citizens have shopped online before.

From the aspect of shopping frequency, for people who shop online more than four times a month on average, the youth took up 31.5 percent. Young adults took up 27.8 percent of the total, and middle-aged shoppers took up 24.6 percent. No elderly citizens shopped online more than four times a month.